Chapter 4: The First Mission
By now, Konoha had already become quite noisy.
Sunlight filtered over the rooftops, landing softly on the stone streets. Shopkeepers called out to customers as they prepared their stalls. A few Academy students hurried past, their voices filled with urgency and excitement.
Uchiha Kenzo walked through the streets at a steady pace.
No one paid him special attention. To most ordinary villagers, he was simply another shinobi on his way to work.
That suited him best for now.
But his mind was already calculating.
The red panel from the previous day remained clear in his memory.
Beginner — 0.002%.
The fish had increased it further. Not by much, but enough to confirm something. The system responded to more than just killing. It responded differently depending on how he acted.
And that was why he was here.
To understand the system better.
The Hokage Tower stood in the center of the village, solid and unmoving. Shinobi entered and exited through its doors with quiet efficiency. Missions were accepted. Reports were filed. Orders were given.
Everything functioned in a predictable rhythm.
Kenzo stepped inside.
The mission hall was already busy. Several Genin teams stood near the lower section of the board, glancing at D-rank assignments with mixed excitement and reluctance. A Chūnin was explaining something to them in a patient tone.
Kenzo's gaze passed over them and moved upward.
He focused on the C-rank section.
That was what he needed right now.
He stepped closer to the board and read carefully.
Merchant Escort — Western Route.
Missing Livestock Investigation.
Wild Animal Suppression — Northern Woods.
Bandit Activity — River Trade Path.
His eyes paused.
Bandit Activity — River Trade Path.
This should do for now.
Estimated eight to twelve individuals. Reports of coordinated ambushes on trade caravans.
It was appropriate for now.
He did not need extreme danger. He needed something controlled. Something that would allow him to observe the system's reaction without unnecessary complications or variables.
Kenzo removed the scroll from the board.
The clerk behind the desk looked up briefly.
"Taking the River Trade Path mission?" the man asked.
"Yes."
The clerk glanced at him casually and gave a small shrug. "Sign here. Don't forget to submit a written report afterward."
Kenzo signed his name without hesitation.
His brush strokes were steady and clean.
As he exited the tower, he briefly glanced up at the hokage tower before continuing on his way.
Meanwhile…
Inside the Hokage's office in the tower,
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage, was reviewing the mission reports submitted by the ANBU who had been on routine patrol the previous night.
With a slow puff from his old pipe, he looked over the stacks of reports before him.
While skimming through them, he came across one submitted by a sensory team tasked with monitoring the Uchiha training grounds.
He took another puff before casually opening the report.
The contents made his eyes narrow slightly.
Report Summary:
Unknown Jōnin-level chakra fluctuation detected near the Uchiha clan training grounds.
Suspected Individual: Uchiha Kenzo
Reason: He was the only shinobi present at the training grounds at the time.
Details: Sixteen-year-old Chūnin of the Uchiha clan. Possesses a two-tomoe Sharingan. Parents deceased during the Third Great Ninja War. Largely isolated within the clan.
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened.
A Jōnin-level chakra fluctuation.
The most reasonable explanation… was that he had awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, considered the possibilities carefully.
One should never underestimate a Jōnin. There were only around a dozen Jōnin within the entire Uchiha clan.
"ANBU."
With a single call, an ANBU operative appeared in a swirl of motion, kneeling respectfully.
"Your orders, Hokage-sama," the masked shinobi said in a steady, practiced tone.
"Inform the sensory division to keep a close eye on this individual."
Without further words, Hiruzen handed over the file detailing Uchiha Kenzo.
"If any complications arise from this person, inform me immediately."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU nodded and disappeared with a Body Flicker.
The old Hokage stood slowly from his chair and walked toward the window. His gaze drifted across the village below.
"Hopefully," he murmured quietly, "this does not introduce any unexpected variables."
The smoke from his pipe curled upward, dissolving into the still air of the office.
On the other hand,
Kenzo passed through the southern gates after presenting his mission document. The guards gave it a brief look, nodded, and let him through without further questions.
Once outside the walls, the sounds of the village slowly faded behind him.
The trade path stretched forward, uneven and worn from years of caravan travel. Wagon tracks cut through the dirt. The river ran parallel some distance away, its steady current faint but constant.
Kenzo adjusted the sealing scroll at his waist.
Inside were spare weapons, explosive tags, soldier pills, and bandages. Enough for a standard C-rank engagement. He had checked everything before leaving. Nothing excessive. Nothing unnecessary.
He kept a steady pace.
After some time, he slowed as he approached the general area mentioned in the report. The terrain began to change slightly—more trees, thicker brush, and fewer clear wagon tracks. Caravans likely felt unsafe traveling deeper without reason.
He stepped off the main road and entered the treeline.
His movements became quieter, more controlled. Not exaggerated—just practiced. He avoided dry twigs when possible and kept to firmer ground.
It did not take long to notice signs.
Broken branches at shoulder height.
Footprints pressed repeatedly into softer soil.
Scrape marks near a tree trunk where something heavy had been dragged.
These were not random traces. They showed habit. A group moving through the same space more than once.
Kenzo paused briefly and observed the surroundings before continuing.
As he moved closer, faint voices reached him. Rough laughter. Casual conversation. No assigned lookout calling signals. No coded speeches either.
Bandits, most likely.
He lowered his presence slightly and advanced another few meters before stopping behind a tree with enough cover to conceal him fully.
From that position, he looked ahead.
Three men were visible near a crude wooden barrier placed along the roadside. It was not well constructed—just logs tied together to slow down carts. One man leaned against it with a spear resting on his shoulder. Another sat on an overturned crate, holding a short blade and scraping dirt from beneath his nails. Their clothes were worn and mismatched.
He watched for a full minute without moving.
Their posture was relaxed. One laughed loudly at something the other said. No one scanned the forest. No one watched the river. Completely careless.
This suggested a lack of experience.
Kenzo shifted his gaze beyond them.
Further back, through gaps in the trees, he could make out faint movement—likely a camp area. A low structure made from patched cloth and wood. Probably where the rest of the group stayed.
The report estimated eight to twelve individuals.
Three here. That meant more nearby.
Kenzo rested his hand lightly near his weapon pouch but did not draw anything yet.
He considered the approach.
Direct engagement would alert the rest. A silent reduction of numbers would provide better control and clearer data for the system's response. He needed to observe the progression carefully. Panic and chaos would introduce variables he did not want.
He inhaled slowly, then exhaled.
The forest remained calm. The river continued its steady sound in the distance. The men ahead continued their conversation, unaware.
Kenzo took one measured step to the side, circling wider through the trees to gain a better angle toward what appeared to be the main camp.
He did not rush.
The hunt was about to begin.